And They're Off!

The reality of the date, July 16th, that was printed on all their boarding passes,

was finally here.

Driving in from all points of the Spokane area,

the team members gathered at the

Spokane International Airport for

their departure to Beijing, China!!!

Wearing their matching purple shirts, team members began checking baggage.

With 22 team members, that's a lot of suitcases!

The months of dreaming and planning were finally becoming into fruition.

And here is the delegation!

1st Row L to R: First Lady Clare Patton and President Hall Patton

2nd Row:  Princesses Lexi, Hailey, and Katie, Queen Sydnee, Princesses Linnea, Jasmin and Hannah.

3rd Row:  Sandra Coultrap, Lisa Schwartzenberg, Steve Allen, Terri Schwartz, Deborah Bowen, Arnie Weinman and wife Kathy, Christine Leva, Gloria Fox, Tracei Scofield, Mayor Steve Peterson of Liberty Lake, and Dennis Pegram.

(not pictured:  Margo, President of the Spokane Sister City Assoc.)

The executives of the Spokane International Airport were kind enough to

show their support for this team by hosting a reception for them, their

families and sponsors.

From the moment team members began arriving at the airport, they were

 followed and interviewed by local media.

A terrific article can be read from Liberty Lake's The Splash newspaper by going

to this link:

http://www.libertylakesplash.com/news.asp?id=22120

And the Spokesman Review did this article:

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/jul/17/noble-calling/

Q6 news will also be covering the trip.

 Each girl of the Lilac Court has a sponsor family.  Several of

them showed up to show their support.

Here's the team right before boarding to Seattle.

And to not take themselves too seriously. . . .

one more endearing picture.

Please leave a comment below.  The team will be reading them from China and

 would love to hear encouraging words!!!